In Alexandra Spieth’s Grinding Doubt from East End Productions, Bobby Liga doubles as producer and a lead actor. Bobby Liga is known for his work on Mindhunter (2017), Before I Go (2021), and Shadow of Doubt (2016). Bobby talkes us through the pre-productioin, production and marketing of Grinding Doubt hightliting his input and skills as a producer and actor on the project. .
indieactivity: Introduce yourself, the story, the film by title, the main cast and the crew?
Bobby Liga (BL): My name is Bobby Liga and I’m the producer and one of the lead actors of our pilot, Grinding Doubt. This story is about a group of small-town degenerates who show up to their nephew’s confirmation party in hopes to impress a movie producer, but instead, everything turns to chaos. Our core cast is Stephanie Hogan as Jackie Chambers, Bobby Liga as Bryce, Daniel Boyd as Danny Chambers, Ciarah Amaanni as Emerson, Our core crew is Director of Photography John J Callejas, and Camera Operator Tom Flynn, and last but not least our Director Alexandra Spieth
What is your experience working on the story, the screenplay, the production, the premiere, and the marketing?
Bobby Liga (BL): Working on this project during a pandemic has been such a great learning experience. We had a team of creative producers and writers who helped storyboard the plot. We went through many drafts and originally had a longer script but due to COVID had scale back only use what was essential to the story. We filmed in Pittsburgh, PA at one location over a 3-day period. We hired an infectious disease doctor who had previously worked with the Pittsburgh Penguins as our set medic, maintained social distance and mask policies, and was able to keep everyone extremely safe. It was such a fun production to be a part of as well. We were thrilled when we were accepted into the New York City Indie Theatre Film Festival. We are excited to see what happens next with our pilot.
How did you put the crew and cast together? Did you start writing with a known cast?
Bobby Liga (BL): We mostly wrote with a known cast and held zoom auditions for a few key characters. It was interesting holding auditions/callbacks virtually but ultimately it gave us a wider reach to cast people who were really perfect for these roles.
The Official Trailer for Grinding Doubt (2021) produced by Bobby Liga and irected by Alexandra Spieth
What and how long did it take to complete the script?
Bobby Liga (BL): It was a team effort and took about 6 months with many different revisions due to COVID.
When did you form your production company – and what was the original motivation for its formation?
Bobby Liga (BL): We formed East End Productions in 2019. We wanted to develop new and interesting stories we were passionate about and hire talented up-and-coming filmmakers from all over NYC. We hope that one day our production company makes a mark in this industry.
What was the first project out of the gate?
Bobby Liga (BL): Our first project was DOSED – an award-winning short film about drug addiction. It won the audience award for Best Dramatic Short and the Film Heals Award at the Manhattan Film Festival where it premiered in 2019.
During the film production, what scene (that made the cut) was the hardest to shoot? And why?
BL: The fight scene, which is the climax of our pilot, was the hardest to shoot. We hired a fight choreographer to make it appear as realistic and smooth as possible while staying safe. We had to practice the scene over and over again while sanitizing to make sure we got it just right.
What worked better in this latest production that mightn’t have worked so well in the last one you did?
BL: On our second short film, Retract, which premiered at the Big Apple Film Festival and also aired on BricTV, we didn’t focus as much on wardrobe and set design. In Grinding Doubt, we brought on a wardrobe department and set design team to really add to the overall vibrancy of the characters. It’s definitely noticeable in the final product.
You must have donned several hats on this film, the measure of your input required intellect, effort, tenacity, skill (…you know better). What did it take you to put out all these qualities to get the film done?
BL: Delegating and bringing on talented professionals made this film become a reality in a global pandemic. Communication was essential. Our team was constantly zooming and preparing months and months before for our August shoot dates. Without my talented crew, this film would have never been completed. I love the team East End Productions has formed.
What about independent filmmaking and the business do you still struggle with?
BL: Getting name talent is something we look forward to achieving on our next project. I would say that’s something we have struggled with. As a producer, I’m still learning a lot about shot lists and equipment. It’s an exciting process and I look forward to learning more every day about filmmaking.
Where do you think your strengths lie as a producer?
BL: Creative development, raising money, delegating, and effective communication.
Let’s talk finance, How did you finance the film?
BL: We raised money through crowdsourcing, but also found private investors who believed in our team and our project.
How much did you go over budget? How did you manage it?
BL: We actually came a little under budget due to an organized and efficient production plan. We used that extra money for festival submissions.
How important is marketing? Do you think a project can make a dent without it nowadays?
BL: I think marketing is so important, especially on social media. I think it would be very difficult for a project to succeed without a proper marketing strategy.
Tell us about marketing activities or efforts on this project – and how it worked or didn’t work?
BL: We are still in the process of developing our marketing strategy. We have already started blasting the trailer on social media and soon we will release little clips to introduce our core cast.
What do you hope audiences will get from the presentation of your film?
BL: We hope they have a good laugh on this wild rollercoaster of a story!
What else have you got in the works?
BL: We are shooting several short films this spring and we’re also in the process of developing a feature action thriller with hopes to secure name talent and a big budget.
Tell us what you think of the interview with Bobby Liga. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook or Instagram! Or join me on Twitter.
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